Tool for twisting wire leaders



April 24, 1951- M. WHALEY 2,550,130

TOOL FOR TWISTING WRE LEADERS Filed April 17, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 MKM ATTORNEY April 24, 1951 M. WHALEY TOOL FOR TWISTING WIRE LEADERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17, 195o FIG.

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ATTORNEY .leaderhaving loops Patented Apr. 24, 1951 TooL'Foa 'rwIs'rINo WIRE LEADERS Morris L Whaley, san Diego, Calif. Application April 17, 1950, Serial No. 156,398

A6 Claims. (C l. 1110-102) This invention relates to va hand tool for forming a loop inthe end of `steel wire for fishing line Aleaders andthe like.v

. One object of thev invention is to provide a icon- `venient hand tool for `forming connection loops 4in thetends of wire. Another object is to pro- K `vide `a hand tool for attaching a shing hook or `squid to a wire leader;v A vfurther .object is to .providel a hand tool `forforming eyes "or loops `in the end of asteel wire and forinterconnecting 'eyesor loops in adjoining wires. Afurther ob- :j'ect is to provide 'a wirev cutting tool combined v--with a wire twisting tool.

These and other objects are attained by .my `invention whichwill be understood from the folllowing description,reference,being made to the --accompanying drawings rin which:

Figure 1 is a top .planview showing a preferred form 'of my wire twister tool;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view partly section of; the `wire twister shown in Figure 1'1;

Figure 3 is a 'crossfsectional viewjt'aken on the V line 3.-3 of Figure V2; A

Figure 4 is fa `cross-sectional View taken on line 4--4V of Figure V2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional'view .taken 'online "5i-5 of Figure 2;

Figure V6 f is an Venlarged fragmentary side elevational View partly in section showing the )wire clamping means;

Figure 7 isa cross-sectional view taken on the line l-lof Figure 2';

Figure 11 is a view Vsimilar, to Figure '9 and' 'Figure'l in which the ,endsyof the wire arefshown --.as initiallylong spirally' twisted to form the end loop.; .Figure 12 is a schematic View somewhat lsimil,lar to Figure 9, Figure 10, and Figure fll in which 'the short end of the wire has been wound tightin .short spirals :around the long end of the wire to complete the formation of the end loop; FigurelS is a side elevational View of a wire .atits Vtwo ends, one loop engaging the, eye of the-squid; A

Figure l1li is a fragmentary view showing the interconnection of a second Wire to another wire having a loop at its end, vthe second wire Sloop being formed in my device.

Inv commercial fishing the squid or hook is .generally attached to the line by means of a steel wire leader which is provided with loops at its ends, one loop engaging the eye Aof the hook. It is often necessary vvto make quick changes of hooks or leaders or lto assemble additional lines', leaders, `and hooks during fishing operations and heretofore it has been customary lto employ hand pliers for forming the loops in the ends 4of the wire. lThe wire :however is generally of hardened steel which is not `easily manipulated, ias it Ais liable vto be 'weakened vby VsharpV bends and `by the rough handling with' pliers. In addition, it is usually necessary to' waste a considerable Llength of .wire in order to complete'by hand the close-'wound coils;--which terminates the' wire twistingyinvolved in the loop making. In addi 'ingdeaders .fof stiff steel wire. My invention therefore supplies a need for a` portable and l l Figure 8 'is a cross-sectional View taken on the i fline 8 8 ofv Figure 6;

simple wire twisting tool which can be readily `mounted on a rigid support such as a work bench and lwhicheasily performs the operation of forming loop ended wire leaders attached to each vother forth'eeye of a hook or squid. Y

-Referring to `the drawings, my inventiondn .its preferred form` consistsof a U-frame 20 which lis adapted 4to `be mounted on a rigid support by means of lag screws or bolts in the holes 2l. The longer leg22 of the U-frame 20 is provided .with a 'horizontally ydisposed bearing 23. The shorter leg 25 of the U-frame 20 is provided with va 'vertical thrust bearing hole 26 in which a clamping means is pivoted as wil-1 be described be- ;low. yA `combination loop bending and twisting member 21 ismounted for turning in said horizontal bearingA 23.

Thefloop bending and twisting member 2l consisting of an elongated forming tool support 28 which is adapted to project toward'the clamp'- lingfmeans, said support being provided with' -a bored hubI 29 which isadapted to fit and rotate in the horizontal bearing 23, and projects beyond the bearing V23'. 'I'he forming tool support .28 is provided with longitudinal grooves Ill]` `in which a bifurcated forming tool 3| is-adapted to slide, the shank end' 3sl-A of the Vforming tool be- ;ing mounted in the end hole 32 in the hub v29, the inner end `ofsaid` toolV shank being threadedly attachedv to,` the,A .thrust rod- 3-3vr which is adapted. to

:Slide in the hole. 34 0f the, -hub 2,9, the end of said thrust rod 33 protruding beyond the outer end of the bearing 23. A coil spring 35 abuts the bottom of the hole 34 and also the inner end of the thrust rod 33, the spring functioning to normally keep the forming tool 3l in a retracted position. A vertical post mandrel 36 is -provided at the innei` end of the forming tool support 28 at a position intermediate the legs of the bifurcated forming tool 3l. The mandrel is provided with a cylindrical cut-out or recess 31 on its side facingthe forming tool 3l, this recess being adapted to receive the eye of the hook or of a leader to which another wire loop A crank handle connecting sleeve 38 is adapted to be attached to the protruding outer end oi the forming tool support 28, this sleeve being provided with pivot mounting bosses 39 extending attached between said bosses 39 by the pivot pin 4I, and is provided with a knot 42 at its outer end for turning the crank. The crank handle 40 is provided, adjacent the pivot pin, with a verticalY cam surface 43 and with a connecting horizontal cam surface 44 arranged so that when the handle is bent to a position at right angles to the axis of the bearing 23 the thrust rod 33 and the attached bifurcated forming tool 3l are moved toward and astride the mandrel 36, so that a length of wire placed in the position shown particularly in Figure 9 is bent to a hairpin shape as shown in Figure 10.

Clamping means 45 is provided on the shorter leg 25 of the main U-frame' 28, the thrust bearing pivot pin 46 being'mounted in the vertical bearing hole 28 so thatthe clamping means 45 may be turned `for a portion of a turn. v Theclamping means 45 consists of the lower clamping plate 41 which is attached to the upper end of the pivot pin 46 and an upper clamping blade 48 which is juxtaposed over the lower plate 41, being held in alignment by the guide pin 49 attached'to the lower plate 41 and by the shouldered stud 50 which is threadedly mounted in the lower clamping plate engages the bottom 52 of a hole 53 downward from the top surface of the upper clamping plate 48, the said hole 53 being covered or closed by the cutter plate 54 which is attached to the plate 48 .by means of screws 55. A coil'spring 56 is provided between the shouldered stud 50. and the under side of the cutter block 54 so that the upward movement of the upper clamping plate 48 bottom of the hole 53. The upper clamping plate is also provided with a depending lip 51 over- :lapping the edge of the lower plate when the plates are in clamped position whose purpose will be described later'. The clamping plates are brought together in clamping position by the action of a lever arm 58 which is pivotally attached to the lug 59 extending from the lower clamp plate 41, the pivot pin 60 pivotally holding the lever arm 58 in the slot 6l at the upper end of the leg 59. The lever arm 58 is also provided with a pressing lug 62 which makes contact with `the top surface ofthe cutter block 54. The pivot pin 69 is adapted to be easily removed, being provided with a spring detent ball 63 to hold the pivot pin removably in the holes in the lug or ears 59. The lever arm 58 is adapted to be axially turned through 180, and remounted on the pivot pin 60 so that the shear plate 64 attached to the lever arm is positioned adjacent the cutting' edge 65 of the cutter block 54 in which position the 41 and is provided with a flange 5I Ywhich is limited by the contact of the ange I with the is to be attached as will be furtherV described.

horizontally. The crank handle 40 is pivotally lever arm operates as a wire cutter, the wire being held in the notches 66 and 61 respectively in the shear plate 64 and the cutter block 54.

The operation of my tool has been more or less indicated in the above description. The wire to be formed into a loop may be inserted if desired through the eye of a squid or of another wire loop placed in the recess 31 of the mandrel 36 as shown in Figure 9.V The crank handle 40 is bent from the axial position asshown in Figure 2 to a position at right angles thereto (as shown in broken lines) which movement causes the cam surface 44 to press against the end of the thrust rod 33 which in turn moves the notched ends of the two legs of the forming tool 3l against the wire and presses it around the mandrel 36, the ends of the wire being projected into the open clamping means 45 as shown particularly in Figure l0. The clamping means 45 is then closed by pressing down the lever arm 58, thus holding the long end of the wire between the shouldered stud 59 'and the depending lip 51, the guide pin 49 being disposed between the two portions of the wire. The combined loop bending and twisting member 21 is then rotated by means of the crank arm 40 to form the open long spiral twist as shown in Figure 11, and the final close-wound coils are formed by turning the clamping means 45 at an angle as shown particularly in Figure 12 so that the guide pin 49 forces the short end of the Wire to form close-wound coils 69 upon further turning of the crank arm 40. The clamp means 45 is then released, the bifurcated forming tool 3l is retracted by the movement of the crank arm 40 to the horizontal position and the wire loop or eye 19 which has been formed around the mandrel 36 together with the squid S to which it is attached is removed through the opening 1I in the forming tool support 28.

I claim:

1; A wire twister adapted for forming and connecting a loop at the end of a wire leader and the like comprising a frame having a horizontal bearing and a vertical thrust bearing disposed apart, and having means for fastening said frame to a rigid support; a loop bending and twisting member horizontally mounted on said frame, said bending and twisting :member consisting of a forming tool support rotatable in said horizontal bearing, a post mandrel mounted at the free end of said support, a bifurcated forming tool adapted to move horizontally onsaid support to a position astride said mandrel, means to slide said tool relative to said support, and means to rotate said support, and clamping means pivotally mounted in said vertical thrust bearing on said frame, including opposed clamping members and a guide pin between said opposed clamping Vmembers adapted to space the spirals at the end of the wire being twisted in said device, said guide pin being disposed eccentrically to said pivot pin.

2. A wire twister adapted for forming and connecting a loop at the end of a wire leader and the like comprising a frame having a horizontal bearing and'a vertical thrust bearing disposed apart, and having means for fastening said frame to a rigid support; a loop bending and twisting member horizontally mounted on said U-irame, Y

erinnert, a: spring: means operatively connected drel;. andl clamping means pivotally mounted` saidvertical thrustcbearing on saidv frame opposite; said forming tool,saidclamping means con.- sistingof aflower clamp plate,- anlupperclamp plate, means to press said clamp plates togethen and"v a guide pin between; said plates adapted to space the spirals at the end of the wire being twisted in said device, said guide pin being eccentigi-cally disposed relative to the axis of turning of said clamping means.

3. Awiretwister adapted for forming and connecting a loop at the end' of wire leader and the like comprising a U-frame having a horizontal bearing on oneleg and a` vertical thrust bearing onthe other leg, and having means for fastening said frame, to a rigid support; a combined loop bending and twisting member horizontally mounted on said U-frame, said bending and twisting member consisting of a rotatable form,- ing tool support having horizontal opposed slides at onevend, the other end being a cylinder rotatable in said horizontal bearing, a vertical cylindrical mandrel mounted at the end of said support between said slides, a bifurcated forming tool f having cooperating slides and adapted to move horizontally in said slides to a position astride said mandrel, means to slide said tool relative to said support spring means operatively connected between said tool and said support and adaptedl to normally hold said forming toolraway from said mandrel, a crank arm operatively attached to said supportrand adapted to rotate said sup-k port while said forming tool is astride said mandrel; and clamping means pivotally mounted in said vertical thrust bearing on said frame, said clamping means consisting of a vertically disposed rpivot pin, a lower clamp plate mounted on the upper end of said pivot pin, an upper clamp plate, means for pressing said plates together, and a guide pin between said plates adapted to space the spirals at the end of the wire being held and twisted in said device, said guide pin being disposed eccentrically to said pivot pin.

Ll. A wire twister adapted for forming and connecting a loo-p at the end of wire leader and the like comprising a U-frame having a horizontal bearing on one leg and a vertical thrust bearing on the other leg, and having means for fastening said frame to a rigid support; a combined loop bending and twisting member horizontally mounted on said U-frame, said bending and twisting member consisting of a rotatable formi ing tool support having horizontal opposed slides at one end, the other end being a bored ycylinder rotatable in said horizontal bearing, a vertical cylindrical mandrel mounted at the end of said support'between said slides, a bifurcated forming tool having cooperating slides and adapter to move horizontally in said slides to a position astride said mandrel, said forming tool having a stem slidably mounted in an axial hole in the cylindrical end of said support, a thrust rod in the bored end of said support, said rod beingl attached to said. stem, spring means operatively connected between said thrust rod and said support and adapted to normally hold said forming tool away from Vsaid mandrel, a crank arm operatively attached to said cylindrical portion of said support, and adapted to rotate said support while projected .toward said mandrel; and clamping means pivotally mountedV inl saidv vertical thrust bearingon-saidframe,4 said clamping means Conf.

Sistine of a. vertically disposed pivot pin, a lower clamp plate mounted on the upper end of said pivot pin, an upper clamp plate movable relative to saidlower clamp plate, means for pressing said plates together, anda guide pin between said plates adapted to space the spirals at the endof: the., wire being held; and twisted in said device, saidguide pinbeing disposedV eccentrically to said pivot pin-.3

s 5., A wire twister adapted for forming and conf netting a loop at the. end of Wire leader and the likev comprising a U-frame having a horizontal bearing o n one leg and a vertical thrust bearing on the other leg, and having means for fastening Isaid frame; to` a rigid support; a combined, loop bending and twisting member. horizontally mounted on said U-frame, said bending and twisting member consisting of a rotatable forming tool support having horizontal opposed slides at one end, the other end being a bored cylinder rotatable in said horizontal bearing, a vertical cylindrical mandrel mounted at the end of said support between said slides, a bifurcated forming tool having cooperating slides and adapter to move horizontally in said slides to a position astride said mandrel, said forming tool having a stem slidably mounted in an axial hole in the cylindrical end of said support, a thrust rod in the bored end of said support, said rod being attached vto said stem, spring means operatively connected between said thrust rod and said support and adapted to normally hold said forming tool away from said mandrel, a crank arm operatively attached to said cylindrical portion of said support, and adapted to rotate saidsupport while said forming tool is astride said mandrel, means associated with said crank arm whereby said thrust rod and attached forming tool may be projected toward said mandrel;

on said U-frame. said clamping means consisting of a vertically disposed pivot pin, a lower clamp plate mounted on the upper end of said pivot pin, ar movable upper clamp plate, Vspring means acting to normally hold said plates apart, a lever arm pivotally attached to said lower plate and pressing upon said upper plate as a fulcrum, and

a guide pin between said plates adapted to space twisting member consisting of a rotatable forming tool support having horizontal opposed slides at one end, the other end being a bored cylinder rotatable in said horizontal bearing, a vertical cylindrical mandrel mounted at the end of said support between said slides, said mandrel having a cylindrical recess on the side thereof facing said horizontal bearing, a bifurcated forming tool having cooperating slides and adapter to move horizontally astride said mandrel, said forming and clamping means pivotally mounted in said vertical thrust bearing 7 tool having a stem slidably mounted in an axial hole in the cylindrical end of said support, a thrust rod in the bored end of said support, said rod being attached to said stem, spring means operatively connected between said thrust rod and said support and adapted to normally hold said forming tool away from said mandrel, a crank arm operatively attached to said cylindrical portion of said support, said crank arm being pivotally mounted and being provided with cam surfaces abutting the free end ofsaid thrust rod, whereby said thrust rod and attached forming tool are projected toward said mandrel when said horizontally disposed crank arm is bent to cranking position at right angles to the axis of i said bearing; and clamping means pivotally mounted in said vertical thrust bearing on said U-frame, said clamping means consisting of a vertically disposed pivot pin, a lower clamp plate mounted on the upper end of said pivot pin, an upper clamp plate, a spring shoulder stud mounted on said lower clamp plate and engaging Y asuman 8 said upper plate'to limit its upward movement, spring means acting to normally holdsaid plates apart, a lever arm pivotally attached to said lower plate and pressing upon said upper plate as a fulcrum, saidupper plate being provided with an overhanging lip adapted to laterally hold a wire being twisted in said clamping means, and a guide pin between said plates adapted to spare the spirals at the end of the wire being twisted in said device, said guide-pin being disposed eccentrically to said pivot pin.

MORRIS L. WHALEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20 1,163,902 Emery Dec. 14, 1915 1,400,937 Bull Dec. 20, 1921 2,481,587 Gregory Sept. 13, 1949 

